Dear Gehman Mennonite Church,
I have a very important update to share with you which will positively affect our ability to transform lives and grow as a ministry.
When Bridge of Hope Lancaster & Chester Counties merged with Good Samaritan Shelter in December 2017, it created a unique organization able to provide a continuum of services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Good Samaritan Services assists men, women and children on their transition towards stability, providing full care and support, from emergency shelter to permanent housing.
As a result of the merger, we are having a deeper and more profound impact in our communities. The participants we serve are now benefiting from programs our organizations previously offered separately. Impactful services like our Microloan Program, Matched Savings Program and Job Training Program are now being offered to all Good Sam participants. In addition, we have invested more money in rental assistance to the individuals and families we serve in Permanent Housing Services (formerly Bridge of Hope Lancaster & Chester Counties).
But we want to do more.
We want to expand our services and change more lives, keeping our Christian faith central to all we do. In our Permanent Housing Services, we want to serve individual men and women – and single fathers and their children as well as single mothers and their children. We want to be flexible, adaptable and deliver a customized approach to helping every person we serve. We want to take chances on people who are in desperate need, and serve the most vulnerable members of our communities.
It is difficult to achieve these aspirations and goals while trying to implement a structured and limiting program model.
In order to respond to the needs of our participants, it is in the best interest of Good Samaritan Services to separate from the umbrella organization, Bridge of Hope National, as a Bridge of Hope program site. This means that Good Samaritan Services will no longer be tied to any particular model or program. It is the same reason why only three percent of our revenue comes from government sources. As a supporter of Good Samaritan Services, it is important for you to know that we will always do what is best for our participant. And usually what is best for the participant is meeting them where they are and offering an array of services that best supports them, rather than working to have everyone follow the same path (or formula) to stability.
Everyone's journey to self-sufficiency looks different. Being on the front lines of serving the homeless population, this is clear to us.
Our Permanent Housing Services will continue to provide its core services: rental assistance, partnering with mentoring groups from local churches, providing professional case management services, and much, much more.
All of us at Good Samaritan Services are abundantly excited for our renewed focus and direction. We have spent a lot of time praying, planning and casting a vision for the future of our organization, and we are confident we will have a greater impact.
We are moving forward with faith and optimism. We are using all of our resources – including highly professional and compassionate staff – to assist anyone in Lancaster County and Chester County who is experiencing homelessness or the threat of homelessness.
Your donation to Good Samaritan Services today creates a better future for an individual or family experiencing homelessness. Your gift makes it possible for us to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Thank you for the tremendous support that you have given to us, in HIS name, to those who are seeking a home and financial stability.
With Gratitude,
